HOCKEY: AS England's hockey players look to take centre stage in Melbourne next month, a Wiltshire doctor will be busy behind the scenes trying to help their medal hopes become reality.

Mike Rossiter, who lives in Collingbourne Ducis nr Marlborough, combines being a GP in Tidworth with the role of Chief Medical Officer for the England Hockey team.

The 38-year-old will travel to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne with the squad at the start of March, on the back of a wealth of experience in top class sport.

He is also a team doctor for Zurich Premiership Rugby club London Irish and works with a variety of elite athletes as a sports physician at the English Institute of Sport, at Bisham Abbey.

Rossiter (pictured) has been involved with English hockey for the past five years, an involvement which has seen him travel the world to numerous international events.

He is hoping he can be part of a successful campaign this time round, but despite an endless supply of air miles, he insists the job is not as glamourous as it first seems.

He said: "Most of the time on tour we only get to see hotel rooms and training grounds. The novelty value wears off quickly.

"The best part of it for me is the atmosphere around the squad and the team spirit.

"The women have a good chance of a medal while the men also have medal chances, although their priority will the World Cup qualifiers immediately afterwards."

Educated at the Royal Free Hospital, London, Rossiter completed his master's degree in Sports and Exercise Medicine at Bath University.

He spends every other weekend with London Irish, and two and a half days a week at Bisham Abbey, where he works with some of British sport's finest competitors.

"I deal with the elite end of the market," he said. "It is a great experience because they are all highly motivated people who want to get better yesterday.

"We work with rowers, athletes from British athletics and many others."